Neighbourhoods team—United Way Toronto & York Region

Overview

To support United Way Toronto & York Region’s Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy. Specific work will include contributing to our Social Innovation Lab that is looking to design and test solutions that will address issues related to a lack of economic opportunity in low-income neighbourhoods . Work will also include supporting the research and design of capacity building and other learning initiatives related to place-based neighbourhood development.

Neighbourhood Initiatives is one of three Community Impact strategies at United Way Toronto & York Region. Beside the Community Services Strategy strategy (a sector-wide strategy) and the Youth Success Strategy (a population-based strategy), the Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy focuses on a place-based approach to dealing with complex and often intersecting neighbourhood challenges within priority areas across Toronto & York Region. The Neighbourhoods Team is currently reviewing and evolving the Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy - a refresh (2.0) of the original strategy launched in 2006. Additional teams such as Strategic Initiatives and Research, Public Policy & Evaluation are also contributing to this refresh.

The work of the original Building Strong Neighbourhoods focuses on a number of core elements - people, space and services. These elements are seen as crucial to the development and long-term success of communities. In people, residents and other stakeholders have the skills and opportunities to influence decision-making processes and systems. In space, in addition to our community hubs, neighbourhoods have access to dynamic spaces that support organizing and gathering in community. In services - neighbourhoods rely and access not only social services but also additional services such as arts & culture that meet their needs are also available to the community.

Place of work: United Way Toronto & York Region, 26 Wellington Street East, 12th Floor

Value and Duration

  • $21.00 per hour, 35 hours per week;
  • 14 to 16 weeks from May to August (to be negotiated).

Qualifications

  • Minimum of one year of social science research experience;
  • Demonstrated ability to implement research and/or evaluation projects;
  • Demonstrated ability to apply qualitative and/or quantitative research methods;
  • Experience in engaging community and relationship building;
  • Experience in public policy analysis;
  • Experience in strategic planning and implementation;
  • Strong analytical, writing and communication skills;
  • Strong teamwork skills;
  • Demonstrated self-starter, highly organized with a keen attention to detail;
  • Ability to work on multiple issues and meet deadlines;
  • Intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel;
  • Knowledge of current social, economic and policy research and public policy issues affecting the community services sector with a preference for expertise in neighbourhood revitalization and/or community infrastructure is an asset.

Responsibilities

  • Conducting research;
    • Assists in the research associated with the Focused Issue and capacity building to support the direction and activities of the Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy refresh;
    • Coordinates and/or carries out social, policy and product research including information gathering, analysis and report writing related to neighbourhood development;
    • Assists in the preparation of background reports and briefing notes that highlights emergent work in the area of economic opportunity, local neighbourhood economic development & community wealth building strategies;
    • Assists in the preparation of briefing material for staff on findings and their implications.
  • Community and stakeholder engagement;
    • Assist in the coordination and documentation of workshops, forums and community engagement sessions that convene participants around key research topics;
    • Assists in the preparation of presentation and other key materials to support community and stakeholder workshops and other sessions.
  • Relationships;
    • Assists in identifying and working with key partners to advance the work on the ‘Focused Issue’ and capacity building;
    • Helps to create opportunities in local communities for residents and other stakeholders to provide input into the ‘Focused Issue’.

How to Apply